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Arts & Entertainment

Yellow Springs Mini-Film-Fest

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Eric Mahoney, the filmmaker behind the Yellow Springs Film Festival has just announced he’ll be hosting a one day  “MINI-FEST” on Saturday April 6th at the Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs!
He shared that this is halfway between last years festival and the Oct 4-6 2024 festival, “so it just seemed to think the mini-fest was a great way to keep the film festival in peoples minds. This will be the first time for folks to see these films and we’re excited to share them with film fans.”

Featuring  films fresh off their premieres at Sundance / SXSW / Venice and see live conversations with visiting Directors. Tickets to all films and events on sale now for all 4 event/screening for $15-20. The Little Art seats just around 100, so buy your tickets online before they sell out.

Saturday, April 6
The Little Art Theatre
247 Xenia Ave
Yellow Springs, OH 45387
Sat, Apr 6, 3:00 PM
The Little Art Theatre • Yellow Springs, OH
9 – 11:30pm EDT
 THANK YOU VERY MUCH (2024) Directed by Alex Braverman

Documentary about performance artist and “song and dance man” Andy Kaufman

The Fourth Annual Dayton Battle of the Bands Finale

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The fourth annual Dayton Battle of the Bands finale takes place on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at The Brightside Music (905 E 3rd St, Dayton, OH 45402), and features six winning bands from each of the playoff rounds.

The finalists from all six weeks include The Bruins (pop/rock), Sheller (alt/punk/metal), Austin Wolfe (Americana/folk), The Shady Pine (country/bluegrass), Melinamarie (hip-hop/R&B), and Freakquency (funk/jam/progressive).

While the finalists were determined in their categories via a combination of audience and judges’ votes, the final round will be 100% determined by the audience. 

“We do ranked-choice voting so that alleviates the popularity contest issue,” said Libby Ballengee, music booker and promoter at The Brightside. “People can come and vote for their fave band, but sometimes everyone loves one band and they get everyone’s 2nd place vote, and that puts them over the top.”

By eliminating the element of bias, relying entirely on the audience feels like an objective method of choosing a winner.

“I don’t know that any panel of judges I could put together would be fair considering we all have genres we like more than others,” said Ballengee.

Previous weeks’ performances were on The Brightside’s smaller Vod-Vil Bar stage, while final competing bands will make their musical cases and perform once more on the Ballroom stage.

Vying for the Grand Prize, the winner gets a free EP recording session with Dayton Sound Studios and the opportunity to perform at Levitt Pavilion Dayton, among other rewards from Little Monster Printing and Dayton’s Original Pizza Factory.

Dayton Battle of the Bands 2023 winner, crabswithoutlegs, a jazzy nine-piece, has quickly become one of Dayton’s darlings, playing the Levitt and becoming a staple act at The Brightside. There’s a good case to be made for the potential of this year’s winner.

Tickets to Dayton Battle of the Bands are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m. Each ticketholder will be granted one vote.

The Brightside Music & Event Venue is located at 905 E 3rd St, Dayton, OH 45402.

Ticket link: https://www.venuepilot.co/events/94654/orders/new

Artist of the Week: Kate Huser Santucci Part 2

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To help me understand how her encaustic paintings are made, I asked Artist of the Week Kate Huser Santucci to walk me through the process using this piece as an example.
“I started with a piece of scrap plywood” she told me. “I taped the edges and put on a layer of encaustic medium (a mixture of beeswax and tree resin). Then I added heat, so that the layer of encaustic medium will firmly grab onto the grain of the wood. After that I could start painting a number of layers of encaustic paint, which is just encaustic medium with pigment added.”
“Every time I add a layer of encaustic paint I heat it with a torch, so that it grabs onto the layers that have been applied. If I add a lot of heat the new layer is smooth. If I use less heat there is more of a texture. At any time, I can scrape off one or more layers in an area, so you can see more of what lies underneath.”
“I set this piece aside at one point because I wasn’t sure where I wanted the painting to go. Then Summer came and I just loved the look of flowers in my yard. I decided to add a flower image to this piece.”
“I used a photo as a reference and did the first layer using a smaller brush and encaustic paint. After that had been fused onto the piece I switched to oil paint with just enough wax in it to allow it to bind with the layers I already had. I started to paint the oil with my finger. If you look closely you can see that I’ve put in reds and oranges and golds and pinks. As a final step I add fine detail with a very small brush.”
For more photos of Kate’s work, and photos of her studio, go to https://billfranz17.com/

Artist of the Week: Kate Huser Santucci

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I’ve been admiring Kate’s encaustic paintings online for quite a while but only met her last summer. She works at Front Street, in the first floor of the 100 Building, where she shares space with Elisha Frontz.
“In college I started out as a theater major” she told me “and then switched to fine arts and eventually got a degree in sculpture. Then I raised a family for 20 years.”
“About 10 years ago I saw an encaustic piece that I was really drawn to. Its layering gave it a sort of ethereal feel. About that same time a friend told me about an encaustic class being taught in St Joseph, Michigan. I decided to take the class and then just dove into encaustic work. I love the versatility of the medium, the way you can be sculptural or really painterly, the way you can scratch parts off or draw lines on and do all kinds of other things.”
Kate tells me she has a busy exhibition schedule coming up. Her work is being shown this month at Studios on High in Columbus. Then in May through August she’ll fill the walls at Wheat Penny Oven and Bar. In October she has a show at Edison State College in Piqua. Next year she already has two shows planned, plus a residency in France. But my favorite way of seeing her work is to stop by her Front Street studio. She’s working there most days, and is always open for First Friday and Third Sunday.
For more photos of Kate’s work, and photos of her studio, go to https://billfranz17.com/

McCoy on Movies: Drive-Away Dolls

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Ethan Coen’s latest cinematic escapade one not worth the drive 

 

“Maybe there’s a better movie hiding in this trunk?” Jamie (Margaret Qually) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) take in an unexpected discovery in a scene from co-writer/director Ethan Coen’s DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS, a Focus Features release. Credit: Jojo Whilden © 2023 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
 

 

 

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, C.J. Wilson, Joey Slotnick, Colman Domingo, Bill Camp, with Pedro Pascal and Matt Damon


DIRECTOR: Ethan Coen

THE BACK STORY: The scene: Philadelphia 1999, right on the verge of Y2K. Jamie (Margaret Qually) is a free-spirited individual who likes to have sex with any woman she sees fit, much to the chagrin of her police officer girlfriend Sukie (Beanie Feldstein). Marian is a very uptight woman stuck in an office job who can’t seem to move on from her last girlfriend years ago … Which is why she decides to plan a trip to Tallahassee, Fla., to go visit her Aunt Ellis (Connie Jackson). 

Seeing how Sukie has had enough of her cheating, Jamie invites herself along for the ride, determined to get her best friend some romantic action. Problem is, the duo don’t have a way of getting there. That’s when Jamie comes up with the idea to find one via a car delivery service owned by the understated Curlie (Bill Camp). Curlie just so happens to have a Dodge that needs to get to Tallahassee the next day, so the girls take the charge and are off.

Problem is, that Dodge contains two very special items in its trunk that the hot-headed Flint (C.J. Wilson) and his more even-keeled partner Arliss (Joey Slotnick) are supposed to pick up and drive to Tallahassee. What are they? Well, let’s just say they both once belonged to The Collector (Pedro Pascal) and now, much to his chagrin, they don’t … and The Chief (Colman Domingo) is determined to get them to his client. Who is his client, you ask? Senator Gary Channel (Matt Damon), a conservative, family-oriented politician desperate to get the silver briefcase and its contents back.
 
So what happens when an uptight, introverted lesbian hits the road with her good-time seeking fellow lesbian while unknowingly being pursued by two thugs over 1,000 miles? You’ll have to see the movie to find out.
 
THE REVIEW: Sometimes, you watch movies and go “This isn’t for me.” It happens. Maybe it’s because you don’t like the dialogue. Perhaps its because the subject matter doesn’t interest you. It could even be that the scenario is so ludicrous that unless you see Chris Bridges pop up in between Fast & Furious movies and State Farm commercials, you can’t buy in.
 
In the case of DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS, it’s all three coupled with just the sheer absolute goofiness of the film from start to finish.
 
Alongside his older brother Joel, Ethan Coen has made his fair share of beloved cinematic excursions. This include Fargo, Burn After Reading and No Country for Old Men. With Drive-Away Dolls, Coen has also delivered a film that might become a cult classic among the LGTBQIA+ lesbian community for its depictions sexuality and self-discovery … But not among anyone looking for a good movie.
Save for the scenes feature Beanie Feldstein, the humor – when present – in DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS fails to deliver its intended result. One day, filmmakers will learn quirky for the sake of quirky isn’t comedy; it’s just annoying – and unfortunately, for every one person that find’s Qualley’s character funny, someone else will see that person that ruins a party with their loud, obnoxious and “well, this is happening, so just roll with it” behavior. She is a pure antagonist to the point you often find yourself feeling bad for Viswanathan’s character.
Make no mistake, diversity in mainstream film is an important thing that needs to be encouraged and supported. That being said, DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS at times feels a little more exploitative than inspired in terms of its characters’ sexuality. (Editor’s note: As a heterosexual, cisgender male, I understand I am not the target audience for the film. However, I know that when I’m watching an extended scene that feels like it is included simply for either shock value or the audience’s titilation, it is a bit distracting to say the least.) And in case you needed someone to just say it for you, DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS is NOT going to make any routine Fox News’ watcher’s top 10 list for 2024.
Save for one very poignant sequence of Viswanathan’s and Qualley’s characters respectively coming to truly understand their relationship, a large portion of the film suffers from a Wes Anderson-level of quirky for the sake of quirky with ridiculous characters, dialogue and actions. While the film’s final 20-25 minutes do ramp things up in terms of watchability and enjoyment, the preceding hour is inane enough to make most audiences not care once they arrive.
Here’s to hoping that DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS is the start of more representation of the LGTBQIA+ community on screen but the last time they are showcased in such silly fashion.

 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

 

 

 

 

Shipwrecked! An Entertainment: The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont

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Join the theatrical quest of deep seas and high comedy! The adventurous Louis de Rougemont invites you to hear his amazing story of bravery, survival and celebrity that left 19th-century England spellbound. Dare to be whisked away in a story of the high seas and all corners of the globe, populated by flying wombats, giant sea turtles and a monstrous man-eating octopus. Shipwrecked examines how far we’re willing to blur the line between fact and fiction to leave our mark on the world.

Recommended if you liked Around the World in 80 Days, The 39 Steps, Peter & the Starcatcher

The show runs Feb 22- March 10th in the Loft Theater. Tickets range from $10-$53 and can be purchased online at Daytonlive.org. Show runtime is 100 minutes.

 

Special Performances

Inside Track: February 22, 7:15 pm.  Join Engagement and Learning Coordinator Tiffany Countryman for a preshow discussion with members of the creative team.

While We’re On the Subject (Post show Talkback):  March 3, 2pm with the cast of Shipwrecked! An Entertainment.

Parent’s Day Out Performance: March 9, 2pm  Drop off is at 1:30pm; allow a few minutes to fill out authorization forms. Purchase your tickets through Dayton Live, and register your children during the checkout process.

Story Slam Dayton “Takes The Leap”

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Inspired by  NPR’s “The Moth”, an inclusive performance event that builds community!
This open mic event hosts some of Dayton’s best tellers.
February  theme is “Taking a Leap”
Doors open at 6:30 PM.
Stories start at 7:00 PM.
Storytellers are encouraged to prepare a 5-minute story relating to the theme and place their names in the hat. Tellers are drawn at random.
Bring a story and bring a friend. The best story of the night wins $50, 4 free tix for a future slam and a guaranteed spot at the next month’s show.
$5.00 in advance. Tickets will be $10 at the door if available, and there is a 2-

The Artistic Life of Aka Pereyma Exhibit Opens Feb 17th

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The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) kicks off its 2024 Special Exhibition season by showcasing the work of Aka Pereyma, an American artist of Ukrainian heritage who lived most of her life in Troy, Ohio. The Artistic Life ofAka Pereyma is on view from February 17–May 12, 2024.

“We are thrilled to present the works of an artist who has such a strong connection to the local community,” said DAI Director & President Michael R. Roediger. “Though Pereyma had a larger following internationally, she is truly a cherished name in the region, making this an exciting show for all. Whether you are familiar with her work or discovering it for the first time, this exhibition will be one you are glad you attended.”

Aka Pereyma’s unconventional and visionary art demonstrates a highly personal means of expression, conveying strong ties to her Ukrainian heritage. Pereyma would say, “I think it is my duty to introduce the world to my Ukrainian culture.” Pereyma’s art does precisely that, weaving folk-art traditions with Modern artistic styles.

Recurring themes include Ukrainian folk songs, depictions of birds to represent her love of nature and Adam and Eve (along with leaves and eggs) to symbolize men and women. The works tell stories, often through surreal, densely filled ornamentation.

Pereyma graduated from the School of the Dayton Art Institute with a degree in sculpture and attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Not tied to a single medium, she made paintings, drawings, wood and metal sculptures, needlework, woodblock prints, ceramics and exquisitely intricate designs on pysanky, the traditional Ukrainian eggs. The exhibition brings together works from throughout her career, from the early 1960s to the 21st century.

Celebrating a local artistic legend, this exhibition will highlight Pereyma’s love of color and bold design. “More is more” was a favorite saying of the artist. Guests can expect to find a wide selection of the artist’s work, each with an incredible amount of detail and symbolism, giving a look into the artist’s inspirations and passions

“Aka Pereyma was someone who was always creating,” said DAI Head Curator & Curatorial Affairs Director Jerry N. Smith. “She was known to have multiple workstations in her home, so she could simultaneously work on a painting at one station, and ceramics, welding or woodcarving at another. In this exhibition, you really get the chance to see what interested and fascinated her. Hers was a full and rich life, filled with family, love of heritage and art. It is why the exhibition is titled The Artistic Life of Aka Pereyma.”

 

Several related programs and educational resources will be offered in conjunction with The Artistic Life of Aka Pereyma exhibition. These include:

  • Community Guided Tour: Select Saturdays, March 9, April 20 and May 4, from 1:30–2:30 p.m. and Select Thursdays, February 29, March 28 and April 25, from 6–7 p.m.
  • Curatorial Conversation: March 30, from 1:30–2:30 p.m.
  • Exhibition Speaker Series: Iryna Voloshyna: Saturday, March 16, from 2–3 p.m. and Saturday, January 6, from 1:30–3 p.m.
  • Exhibition Speaker Series: Christina Pereyma O’Neal: Saturday, April 13, from 2–3 p.m.
  • Experience the Exhibition: Ukrainian Egg Painting: Saturday, March 23, from 1:30–3 p.m. Cost: $35 for members and $45 for non-members.
  • Experience the Exhibition: Family Story Telling: Saturday, April 27, from 1:30–3 p.m. Cost: $35 for members and $45 for non-members.

Admission to The Artistic Life of Aka Pereyma exhibition is included in the museum’s general admission, which includes access to all Special and Focus Exhibitions currently on view, as well as the museum collection galleries. General admission is $15 adults; $10 seniors (60+), active military and groups (10 or more); $5 students (18+ w/ID) and youth (ages 7–17); and free for children (ages 6 & younger). Admission is free for museum members. Membership information can be found online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/membership.

 

Other current and upcoming Special and Focus Exhibitions at the museum include Telling Stories: World Literature in Art (on view through May 26, 2024), James Pate, Techno-Cubism: The Art of Line Painting (on view from February 3–April 28, 2024), Hand-Colored Photographs(on view from March 23–September 22, 2024) and Captivating Clay: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics from the Horvitz Collection (on view from April 13–September 29, 2024).

 

For more information about planning a visit, including current museum hours and updates, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit or call 937-223-4ART (4278). Connect with the Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and videos and exclusive offers.

 

ABOUT DAYTON ART INSTITUTE

MISSION: Through art, we create transformative and diverse experiences, strengthen community connections and inspire imagination.

 

VISION: Through art, we are dedicated to collection stewardship, creative engagement and inspirational experiences. With intentional momentum, we nurture inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility.

 

Swan Lake

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The Dayton Ballet company takes the stage with grace and athleticism for a performance not to be missed!

Set to Tchaikovsky’s romantic score (performed live by the Philharmonic), Septime Webre’s Swan Lake is a perennial favorite, featuring gorgeous sets, beautiful costumes, and dramatic choreography that includes one of the most famous scenes in ballet. Swan Lake tells the doomed love story of Prince Siegfried and Princess Odette, a captivating tale of magic, deception, and heartbreak.

Organ Recital by Dr. David Crean

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On Sunday, February 11, 2024 all roads will lead to First Baptist Church in downtown Dayton, Ohio to hear organist Dr. David Crean at 4:00 p.m. perform works by Bach, Sweelinck, Distler, R. Vaughan Williams, and an arrangement by Alec Wyton on a work of Billy Strayhorn called Lotus Blossom. Dr. Crean will also play an arrangement of We Shall Overcome by Carl Heyward.

The organ at First Baptist Church of Dayton is one of the unique hybrid installations in the country as it is a combination Casavant and Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, and Rodgers electronic organ. Dr. Crean will perform works that will highlight and showcase the many unique capabilities of this fantastic instrument.

The concert is free to the public with free parking next to the church on Monument Avenue. An all-welcome reception will follow in the fellowship hall of the church immediately after the performance. The concert is brought to you FBC members Timothy and Connie Holmen.

Dr. Crean can be heard daily as an announcer of WDPR-88.1 FM Dayton Public Radio. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Wright State University and organist at St. George’s Episcopal Church on Far Hills Avenue in Centerville. He is the newly appointed conductor of the Bach Society of Dayton.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone™ in Concert

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The ultimate Harry Potter film experience! A full showing of the film in high definition with your Dayton Philharmonic live orchestra performing John Williams’ iconic score.

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF THE FILM WITH A LIVE ORCHESTRA

Relive the film that started it all. Watch the wand choose the wizard, a troll run amok and magic mirrors in high-definition while a live orchestra performs John Williams’ iconic score. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime event as Harry, Ron, Hermione and all your favorite characters return to the screen and enchant the world all over again.

The Cher Show

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The Tony Award®-winning musical! Her life. Her story. Her legend. Superstars come and go. Cher is forever. For six straight decades, only one unstoppable force has flat-out dominated popular culture – breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries, and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. THE CHER SHOW is the Tony Award®-winning musical of her story, and it’s packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon. THE CHER SHOW is 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy®, an Oscar®, an Emmy® and enough Tony Award®-winning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City, all in one unabashedly fabulous new musical that will have you dancing in the aisles!

THE CHER SHOW is a new Broadway musical production created to celebrate the story of Cher’s life featuring fabulous Bob Mackie costumes, energetic performances, and 35 of her greatest hits. The role of Cher is woven together by three performers who depict Cher throughout distinct periods in the superstar’s life. Cher does not appear in the show.

Showtimes

Saturday, Feb 3, 2:00PM
Saturday, Feb 3 8:00PM
Sunday, Feb 4.  1:00PM
Sunday, Feb 4. 6:30PM
Tickets for the 2 hour,  25 minute show at The Schuster  range from $29 – $119 and can be bought online.

Ohio Plein Air Society Paint-In

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Come see artists from the Ohio Plein Air Society in action! Artists will be stationed throughout the museum from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day, using the airplanes and artifacts as inspiration for their one-of-a-kind creations.

Don’t be shy! If you are curious about what an artist is doing, and what inspires them – stop and ask! They’d love to share!

*This is not a hands-on opportunity for museum visitors.

(title of show) Getting Raves at TheatreLab Dayton!

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The cast of (title of show.)

Theater in Dayton continues to provide high quality programming for the area…and TheatreLab‘s (title of show) is one outstanding example. Two of TL’s directors, Phillip Drennen and Mackensie King gave us a look at the show, and what’s driving the new energy that is TheatreLab Dayton!

D9: The town is a-buzz with (tos). Mackensie, what makes this show a must-see in your opinion?

MK: This show is spectacular because it truly feels like watching a group of people write a musical in real time. We rarely get the opportunity to see that side of the creation process. All of the performers are letting themselves into each of the characters and allowing truly sincere moments that will bring you to tears while also having you split your sides open with laughter. The harmonies and vocals are SO tight you will question if you are listening to recordings!

D9: Philip, this show takes place in the TheatreLab space, which I hear is going through some changes. Why do this performance there?

PD: Presenting the show in the TheatreLab space is a perfect way to make this show feel even more immersive and really let the audience into the action. The show is mostly a comedy and the score is very intricate so our performers really had to have the chops to pull it off. The acoustics in the TLD space really highlight the complicated and beautiful harmonies in the show. We are finding new ways to bring people into the TheatreLab space as well. Our recent Holiday Trivia party was a huge hit, too. It’s intimate and it brings a whole new energy! More to come with our space, for sure.

Mackensie King

D9: And Mackensie, what do you feel the TL space affords for a patron?

MK: They can  expect a very close-knit performance. We have less than 60 seats and the action happens right in their face! We have a donation bar and snacks available as well.

PD: Right. I feel like this is  a launching pad for what people can expect more of from TLD going forward. Evocative and authentic pieces of theater told in an intimate setting. By the end of the show, you will feel like you’re just one of our friends, rooting just as hard to get our show to Broadway!

D9: I know there has been much chatter around TheatreLab’s new vision for their part in the Dayton Area Theater scene. With a ‘grassroots group’ of performers and pals, a new path is being forged! Tell us about that!

PD: Yes, we have some very dedicated folks…a group of volunteers made up of performers and friends that are putting their time and resources into all things TheatreLab!  It feels very genuine and heartfelt! So thankful for their energy!

MK: With that, we want to continue to offer intimate and unique staging of unknown shows and familiar shows. We truly want to bring Theatre into Dayton by producing shows in unconventional spaces and partnerships with local companies.

D9: When can folks still catch (title of show?)

PD: [title of show] runs for one more week, Thursday, Jan 24 – Sunday Jan 28, 7:30pm on Wednesday and Thursday, 8p on Friday and Saturday, and 2p on Sunday. Tickets range from $10-25 and our Wednesday performance is pay what you can!

D9: Congratulations to you both….and to the entire cast and crew of (title of show.) Looking forward to more from TheatreLab Dayton!

For More Information Visit:

www.theatrelabdayton.org

TheaterLab Presents: [title of show] Musical

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[title of show] is a musical about two nobodies named Hunter and Jeff who decide to write a completely original musical starring themselves and their attractive and talented ladyfriends, Susan and Heidi.

Their musical, [title of show], gets into the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and becomes a hit. Then it gets an off-Broadway production at the Vineyard Theatre, and wins three Obie Awards! Then (drumroll if you’ve got a drum) it’s announced that their musical is going to Broadway (hooray!) and people start seeing this blurb everywhere! They read that The New York Times called [title of show]“DELECTABLE ENTERTAINMENT! A postmodern homage to the grand tradition of backstage musicals like Babes in Arms, Kiss Me, Kate and A Chorus Line.” Fully intrigued, those people snatch up tickets and help make Hunter and Jeff’s life-long dream come true!

TRUE WEST Opens At Dayton Theatre Guild

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This Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony-nominated play examines the relationship between two estranged brothers. It is set in the kitchen of their mother’s home in the desert, 40 miles east of Los Angeles. Austin, a screenwriter and achiever, is working on a script he has sold to producer Saul Kimmer. Lee is a demented petty thief who drops in and pitches his own idea for a movie to the producer. Sal then wants Austin to junk his bleak, modern love story and write Lee’s trashy Western tale.